Integrated Bypass Diode Schemes for Solar Modules

Abstract

Hybrid solar cell plates with integrated bypass diodes and modules thereof are described. In an embodiment, a hybrid solar cell plate includes a step surface including a floor and a step edge extending from the floor and across a thickness of a top subcell. A bypass diode is over the floor and laterally adjacent to the step edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hybrid solar cell plate comprising:
 a bottom electrode layer;   a top subcell over the bottom electrode layer;   a step surface including a floor and a step edge extending from the floor and across a thickness of the top subcell;   a bypass diode spanning over the floor and the top subcell; and   a patterned metal layer spanning over the bypass diode.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , wherein the patterned metal layer comprises a plurality of metal finger electrodes spanning over the top subcell. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 2 , wherein the patterned metal layer comprises a metal busbar substantially located over the floor. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 3 , wherein the bypass diode is characterized by a finger and busbar pattern underlying a portion of the plurality of metal finger electrodes and the metal busbar. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the step edge is adjacent to and parallel to a peripheral edge of the hybrid solar cell plate;   the top subcell is a portion of an only solar cell of the hybrid solar cell plate; and   the bypass diode is an only bypass diode of the hybrid solar cell plate.   
     
     
         6 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom subcell, wherein:
 the top subcell comprises:
 a first bottom junction layer of a first carrier type; and 
 a first top junction layer of a second carrier type opposite the first carrier type; and 
   the bottom subcell comprises:
 a second bottom junction layer of the first carrier type; and 
 a second top junction layer of the second carrier type opposite the first carrier type. 
   
     
     
         7 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 6 , wherein the step edge extends across a thickness of the second top junction layer. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 7 , wherein the floor spans over the first bottom junction layer. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 7 , further comprising a bottom bypass electrode on the floor, wherein the bypass diode spans over the bottom bypass electrode. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom bypass electrode fills a substantial height of the step edge of the step surface. 
     
     
         11 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 10 , further comprising an insulator material that fills a gap laterally between the top subcell and the bottom bypass electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the second bottom junction layer is p-doped silicon;   the first bottom junction layer is a hole transport layer;   the first top junction layer is an electron transport layer; and   further comprising a perovskite absorber layer between the first bottom junction layer and the first top junction layer.   
     
     
         13 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , further comprising a top transparent electrode layer. 
     
     
         14 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 13 , wherein the step edge extends across a thickness of the top transparent electrode layer. 
     
     
         15 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 14 , wherein the patterned metal layer spans over the bypass diode and the top transparent electrode layer. 
     
     
         16 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 15 , wherein the patterned metal layer includes a plurality of metal finger electrodes spanning over the top subcell. 
     
     
         17 . The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 16 , wherein the patterned metal layer includes a metal busbar substantially located over the floor. 
     
     
         18 . A solar module comprising:
 a first hybrid solar cell plate comprising:
 a first bottom electrode layer; 
 a first top subcell over the first bottom electrode layer; 
 a first step surface including a first floor and a first step edge extending from the first floor across a first thickness of the first top subcell; 
 a first bypass diode spanning over the first floor and the first top subcell; and 
 a first patterned metal layer spanning over the first bypass diode; and 
   a second hybrid solar cell plate comprising:
 a second bottom electrode layer; 
 a second top subcell over the second bottom electrode layer; 
 a second step surface including a second floor and a second step edge extending from the second floor across a second thickness of the second top subcell; 
 a second bypass diode over the second floor and the second top subcell; and 
 a second patterned metal layer spanning over the second bypass diode; 
   wherein the first patterned metal layer is connected to the second bottom electrode layer.   
     
     
         19 . The solar module of  claim 18 , wherein the first patterned metal layer is connected to the second bottom electrode layer with a ribbon or wiring. 
     
     
         20 . The solar module of  claim 18 , wherein the first patterned metal layer is connected to the second bottom electrode layer with a conductive film, conductive paste, or solder.